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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Torture investigation of Bahraini prince puts IOC and AFC on the spot (Updated)

A possible police investigation into allegations
that Prince Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the commander of Bahrain's armed
forces and head of its National Olympic Committee, was involved in the torture
of political detainees, including three national team soccer players could prove to be embarrassing for the president of the Asian
Football Confederation (AFC) and a relative of the prince, Sheikh Salman bin
Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who has systematically refused to condemn the torture and
detention of numerous players and athletes in Bahrain.

An investigation if it results in legal proceedings could
also constitute a litmus test for the efforts of International Olympic
Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach to persuade international sports governance
to recognize the inextricable links between sports and politics. It could
raise for the IOC issues similar to those that have dogged world soccer body
FIFA since the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

In Qatar’s case FIFA executives have been forced by
widespread condemnation of labour conditions in the Gulf state to acknowledge
that human rights criteria should be taken into consideration in the awarding
of future tournaments. In Prince Nasser’s case the question would be whether
human rights should be a criteria for eligibility in international sports
governance.

An overruling by the UK High Court of a decision by the UK director of public prosecution that granted Prince Nasser immunity
because of his royal status in Bahrain has opened the door to an investigation, according to defense lawyers in the case. Prince Nasser, the eldest son of King Hamad,
is a frequent visitor to Britain in part because of his participation in
equestrian competitions. The court ruling followed a bid by a Bahraini national,
identified only by the initials FF, to have Prince Nasser arrested on charges
of involvement in the torture of those arrested during the Saudi-backed brutal
squashing in 2011 of anti-government protests.

Bahrain condemned the court ruling as “an ill-targeted,
politically motivated and opportunistic attempt to misuse the British legal
system. The government of Bahrain again categorically denies the allegations
against Sheikh Nasser. The government reiterates its firm condemnation of
torture and recognises its responsibility to investigate any reasonable
allegation,” the government said. It denied that the ruling opened the door to
a prosecution asserting that “the decision on immunity was academic” as had
been “made plain in court today. In short, the situation has not, and will not,
change as there is no evidence for the allegations.”

Tom Hickman, a barrister representing FF told the court that the ruling "clears the way for an investigation of the prince and for consent for an arrest warrant to be sought. Further evidence will be submitted to the police in due course,” according to The Guardian.

Melan Riley of Bell Yard Communications asserted on behalf of the government that there is no investigation because there is insufficient evidence to warrant one". Ms Bell said her assertion was based on a statement to the court by the prosecution. In its statement, the prosecution said that it agreed to the court’s view that Prince Nasser would not enjoy immunity “in the light of the Claimant’s intention to submit further evidence to the police.” The prosecution insisted however that the police had “decided not to conduct an investigation on the basis of the dossier of evidence submitted to it.”

Among those arrested who alleged that they had been tortured
are three former national soccer team players, including brothers Ala’a and
Mohammed Hubail. At the time some 150 athletes and sports executives were
either detained or dismissed from their jobs on charges of having participated
in the protests. Many have since been reinstated. But Bahrain has since then
also detained scores of other players and athletes.

Sheikh Salman has been dogged by allegations that his office
identified athletes who were among those arrested. Insisting that politics and
sports are separate, Sheikh Salman has denied the allegations. But he has also
refused to denounce the alleged abuses of human rights or to discuss the
allegations against him. Sheikh Salman has said that there was no reason to
apologize to the players because it was an issue for politicians, not his
soccer federation despite the fact that a government-endorsed independent
investigation concluded that torture had occurred.

The Hubail brothers have accused Sheikh Salman, who also
heads the Bahrain Football Association, of abandoning them. Mohammed Hubail
said in an interview in 2012 with Associated Press that they had received no
apology or compensation from the association for months of alleged
mistreatment. “We are his responsibility and people like him should solve the
problem, not ignore it. I have a lot of anger. I really miss playing in my team
and for Bahrain,” Mr. Hubail said.

Mohammed, Alaa and other sports figures were denounced in
2011 as spies and traitors on state television on the eve of their arrests in a
program in which Prince Nasser phoned in to congratulate the show for its
denunciation.

“Well done, guys. And on your efforts, all of you. And to
everyone who stood and proved his loyalty to the Kingdom of Bahrain, leadership
and people. And anyone who called for the fall of the regime, may a wall fall
on his head. Today, we at the Organization of Sports and Youth have nothing to
do with politics and are concerned with sports and brotherly competition. People
have involved themselves in matters and have lost the love of their fans.
People have entered labyrinths in which they will be lost... Anyone who involved
himself in these matters and was part of it will be held accountable. Whether
he is an athlete, socialite or politician, whatever he is — he will now be held
accountable. Today is judgment day. May God grant patience and strength to all.
Bahrain is an island and there is nowhere to escape… It is known who stood
against us. The days will judge,” Prince Nasser said.

When the talk show host reminded his viewers that King Hamad
had warned earlier on the day of the broadcast that there would be no
forgiveness, Prince Nasser responded, saying: “Well done.”

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, a brother of Prince
Nasser and relative of Sheikh Salman, who was at the time secretary-general of
the Bahrain Olympic Committee, defended the crackdown on the athletes and
alternatively denied and downplayed the allegations of torture. “You have to
defend yourself, you have to protect the law and you have to take decisions on
the ground,” Sheikh Ahmed said. He said the crackdown had been “absolutely”
proportionate and justified.

Asked about what happened to the athletes once they were
detained, Sheikh Ahmed first said: “When they were detained? Nothing.” But
pressed about the torture allegations, he added: “We heard many stories how can
we say for fact that this happened?”

James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam
School of International Studies as Nanyang Technological University in
Singapore, co-director of the Institute of Fan Culture of the University of
Würzburg and the author of the blog, The Turbulent World of Middle East
Soccer, and a forthcoming book with the same title.

Gerd, one was a medic who helped the wounded. I don't recall off hand but if you look to the right of this comment you'll see Bahrain in the list of taglines. Click on that and scroll through the stories particularlyin 2011 and its all there

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About Me

James M DorseyWelcome to The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer by James M. Dorsey, a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Soccer in the Middle East and North Africa is played as much on as off the pitch. Stadiums are a symbol of the battle for political freedom; economic opportunity; ethnic, religious and national identity; and gender rights. Alongside the mosque, the stadium was until the Arab revolt erupted in late 2010 the only alternative public space for venting pent-up anger and frustration. It was the training ground in countries like Egypt and Tunisia where militant fans prepared for a day in which their organization and street battle experience would serve them in the showdown with autocratic rulers. Soccer has its own unique thrill – a high-stakes game of cat and mouse between militants and security forces and a struggle for a trophy grander than the FIFA World Cup: the future of a region. This blog explores the role of soccer at a time of transition from autocratic rule to a more open society. It also features James’s daily political comment on the region’s developments. Contact: incoherentblog@gmail.comView my complete profile